Apparatus for recording speech or other sounds



v (No Model.) A W. BRUENING.

APPARATUS r03 Rnoonnme SPEECH QR OTHBRVSOUNDS. No. 48611194 .v Patented Nov 15,1892.

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UNITE STATES PATENT EErcEt.

WVILLIAM BRUENING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUSFOR RECORDING SPEECH OR OTHER SOUNDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,394, dated November 15, 1892.

Application filed July 23, 1891. Serial No. 400,451. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BRUENING, a citizen of the United States, residing in the township of East Orange, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Recording Speech or other Sounds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the apparatus for directing the sound -waves upon the diaphragm orother vibrating mechanism in a phonograph, to the improved apparatus for recording sound-waves, and to the means of heating a recording-style used for the purpose.

The objects of my invention are to obtain a more perfect action of the diaphragm and style in making a record of sound-waves in or on solid resisting material and of providing an eflicient method of imparting heat to the style for the aforesaid purpose.

I attain the objects of my invention by the means set forth and described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the horn or sound-conveyer, of the diaphragm, sound-wave reflecting devices, style, and section of a phonographic record or tablet. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the construction of style in connection with the diaphragm and tablet and the method of establishing the same in an electrical circuit. Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 1, showing variations in the method of supporting the diaphragm and heating the style by electricitywhen not in circuit; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of the last-mentioned part of the same.

Similar letters represent similar throughout the figures.

H is the born or part of the horn or sound conveyer, which is provided at its smaller end with the inwardly-proj ectingannular concave reflector D.

O is a deflector, preferably of cone shape, and is held within the horn H by the brackets B, leaving the annular space F between its large end and the inside of the horn, through which sound-waves are deflected upon the annular concave reflector or reflectingsurface D. The large and forward end or parts base of the cone-shaped deflector O has the shape of a concave reflector E,'which may be spherical or parabolical, and has in front of it the diaphragm D, the center of which is located at the focus of the spherical reflectingsurface E, supported either upon the back or convex side of the deflecting-surface, as shown in Fig. 1, or byarms A and stem M, as shown in Fig. 3.

The style S, Figs. 1 and 2, which may be of any suitable shape and construction and is made of electrical resisting material, is located in an electrical circuit of which WV W are the wires.

G G are springs, preferably made flat and of good conducting material, bearing upon the post P of the diaphragm and located in the circuit, and they are electrically connected at one end by the style S. Strips of mica K K properly insulate the two springs, the ends of the style, and all these parts from the post of the diaphragm.

U is a rubber band or strip. section in Fig. 2.)

The post P, supporting the style and circuit, may be made of non-conducting material, which is wound around the springs and inclosed mica strips for insulating purposes and for the purpose of securing the parts together.

B is a hard-rubber block which gives insulated support to the springs and style.

0 O are shoulders for securing the horn in its frame or holder by means of set-screws or a clamp or other suitable device.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Sound-waves developed within the horn H are deflected through the annular passage F upon the reflecting-surface D, thence upon the concave reflecting-surface E behind the diaphragm D, and therefrom upon the cen ter of the adjacent side of the diaphragm D. The force exerted by the sound-waves is thereby applied to the least resisting part of the diaphragm and a better effect obtained than when it is directed upon the whole surface thereof.

When the apparatusis about to be operated for the purpose of making the record, the circuit of the wires W W is closed and the style S becomes heated by the friction of the electrical current, and by the action of the style and the aid of the heat imparted thereby re- (Shown in cords the sound-waves in the material of the tablet E, which is composed of some fusible material or material which may be softened by heat and which is firm at ordinary temperatures. It is unnecessary to describe the style in detail, except to say that it must be of such construction and dimensions and such material that a suitable electrical current will heat the style to a sufficient extent to make the record in or on the aforesaid recording material and in such manner, according to the recording method employed.

Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications in the method of supporting the diaphragm and also in the method and apparatus for heating the style, which consists of a coil, preferably of platina wire '1, surrounding the style S. The style is properly insulated from the diaphragm if the latter is an electrical conductor, and, as shown in Fig. 4, by washers of nonconducting material between the diaphragm and the shank and shoulders of the style,and the platina wire being located in an electrical circuit and heated by an electrical current heat is communicated to the style either by conduction or radiation for the purpose of making the record in the recording material or tablet. I preferably support the style S, and to some extent the diaphragm D, in onesay the most forward-of the coils of the platina wire T, and through the contact 'given by such support the heat generated in the platina wire may be transferred to the style by conduction, and heat may also be transferred to the style from the other parts of the coiled platina wire which do not make contact therewith by radiation; but I do not confine myself to either radiation or conduction exclusively, since the amount of heat required depends largely upon the fusibility of the material composing the tablet and in which the record is to be made.

The horn or sound-conveyer and reflector, as well as the style herein shown, may be used in connection with my apparatus shown in my application already allowed in phonographs, Serial No. 377,724, filed January 14, 1891.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a phonograph, a horn or sound-conveyer, one end of which projects inwardly and forms a concave annular reflector, in combination with a spherical reflector, a diaphragm which presents its inner side to the concave surface of the spherical reflector and is supported by its frame on the convex surface of the annular reflector, and a recording style which is supported on the outer side of said diaphragm.

2. In a phonograph, a style consisting of a. loop of an electrical circuit, the two limbs of which are insulated from each other and from the diaphragm, and the end of which loop is provided with a suitable point for making the record in a phonograph record-blank. a

3. In phonographs, astyle S, consisting of a loop of an electrical circnit wire, the point of which is formed by an acute angle in the bend of the loop, the two sides of the loop insulated from each other by the insulating material K and the whole being insulated from the diaphragm.

4. In phonographs, the style S, springs G G, and insulating material K K, in combination. 5. In phonographs, the style S, springs G G, insulating material K K, and rubber block B, in combination.

6. In phonographs, the style S, springs G G, insulating material K K, rubber block B, and rubber band U, in combination.

WILLIAM BRUENING.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. SKILTON, EDWARD S. BERRALL. 

